Serious violence

The Home Office published the Serious Violence Strategy on 9 April 2018, which it has described as looking at “the root causes of the problem and how to support young people to lead productive lives away from violence” as well as at law enforcement.

The Government has described the Strategy as taking a “public health approach” to serious violence. However, in evidence to the Home Affairs Committee, which is currently conducting an Inquiry into serious violence, police representatives have commented that although the Strategy "alludes" to public health, it is not yet a public health-based strategy and greater coordination and capacity are needed.

taking steps to introduce a statutory duty for all agencies – including health, education, social services, local government and housing, as well as law enforcement – to tackle serious violence.

launching a £200 million endowment fund, to target young people at risk of starting a life of crime and violence; and

conducting a major review of the market for illegal drugs.

All of these measures have now made some progress, as the Home Secretary set out in a recent Written Statement following a Downing Street summit on serious youth violence.

In March 2019, the Chancellor announced additional funding of £100 million for the police in his Spring Statement, with some of this being used to fund Violence Reduction Units “in worst affected areas”. In evidence to the Home Affairs Committee, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick described the £100 million as a “reasonably small amount”, and that “other resources” needed to be considered alongside policing resources.